Concordia Seminary, St. Louis recently received nine awards from the Associated Church Press [1] (ACP) and the Evangelical Press Association [2] (EPA). The awards for work completed in 2023 were announced during each of the organizations’ conventions held this spring.
“It is a wonderful privilege and great honor to be recognized by these esteemed organizations for our work,” said Vicki Biggs, senior vice president of Seminary Advancement and chief communications officer. “We are motivated not by the possibility of awards but by the opportunity to connect friends and supporters more closely with Concordia Seminary’s mission for the sake of the Gospel — and through those efforts, if the work rises to the level of recognition, we are indeed deeply grateful.”
The ACP is the nation’s oldest interdenominational religious press association. It presented its awards in May in Chicago.
In the ACP’s “Overall Excellence/Best in Class” contest:
- The Seminary received a first place Award of Excellence in the “Public Relations or Marketing Campaign” category for its promotional campaign for the Multiethnic Symposium 2023 [3]. Named in the award are: Vicki Biggs, chief communication officer; Melanie Ave and Sarah Maney, communications; Beth Hasek and Courtney Koll, creative; Chris Miller, web; and Dale Ward, video.
- The Seminary received a second place Award of Merit in the “Seminary Publication or Journal” category for “Concordia Seminary [4]” magazine. Named in the award are: Vicki Biggs, executive editor; Melanie Ave, managing editor; Beth Hasek, art director; and Courtney Koll, designer.
Additional ACP awards include:
- For “Integrated Communications,” a first place Award of Excellence for Theological Symposium 2023: Living by Hope in a Secular Age: Church and Society. [5] Named in the award are: Beth Hasek and Courtney Koll, creative; Vicki Biggs, Melanie Ave and Sarah Maney, communications; Chris Miller, web; and Dale Ward, video.
- For “Integrated Communications,” the Seminary received a second place Award of Merit for the 2023-24 new academic year branding: We belong to Christ [6]. Named in the award are: Beth Hasek and Julia Staggenborg, creative; Vicki Biggs and Melanie Ave, communications; Chris Miller, web; Christie Hampton, writer/social media; and Dale Ward, video.
- For “Theme Issue, Section or Series (Magazine or Journal),” the Seminary received an honorable mention for the spring 2023 issue of “Concordia Seminary” magazine, “His in Community [7].” Named in the award are: Vicki Biggs, executive editor; Melanie Ave, managing editor; Beth Hasek, art director; Courtney Koll, designer; and Dr. Thomas J. Egger, Dr. Peter Nafzger, Vicki Biggs and Jacob Moore, writers.
The EPA is a professional organization of Christian print and digital publications. It announced its awards in April in Lexington, Ky.
In the EPA’s “Awards of Excellence” contest, the Seminary received a second place Award of Merit in the “Higher Ed (Digital)” category for “Concordia Seminary [8]” magazine. Named in the award are Vicki Biggs, Melanie Ave, Beth Hasek and Chris Miller.
In the EPA’s “Higher Goals” contest:
- For “Student Writer of the Year,” the Seminary received second place for “Being the body of Christ [9]” by Lucas Moody, a first-year Master of Divinity student. The article appeared in the fall/winter 2023 issue of “Concordia Seminary [10]” magazine.
- For “Typography and Lettering,” the Seminary received fourth place for “Concordia Seminary [8]” magazine. Named in the award are Courtney Koll, Beth Hasek, Melanie Ave and Vicki Biggs.
- For “Table of Contents,” the Seminary received fifth place for “Concordia Seminary [8]” magazine. Named in the award are Courtney Koll, Beth Hasek, Melanie Ave and Vicki Biggs.
Read the full list of ACP awards [11] and the full list of EPA awards [12].
About Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) [13]. To learn more, visit csl.edu [14].